“I can take a hint.” Beck grinned. “I’ll give you all some privacy. Back in a few.”

  “Try to leave her in one piece,” Hammer called after him.

  After shooting him a dirty glare, the doctor hustled out the door, taking the levity of the moment with him. The guilt and pain that had wracked Hammer the instant he’d discovered Raine missing returned.

  Finally alone with the two people he loved most, Hammer wrapped his arms around Raine, thankful that Liam was on the same page, embracing her as if she was his everything. “Let it out, precious. Give your pain to us.”

  Their reassurance seemed to break the dam holding in Raine’s emotions. She sobbed for endless moments. Neither he nor Liam let go. Instead, they whispered how glad they were that she was safe, that she’d found a way to survive, that they loved her.

  Long minutes later, Hammer kissed the tears from her cheeks, then Liam placed a tissue beneath her nose. She stared up at his partner with those beautiful blue eyes.

  “Blow, Raine,” Liam instructed.

  She didn’t protest or argue that she could do it herself. She simply let Liam pamper her—no questions asked—because they both needed it. Hammer sent her an approving smile.

  “How are you feeling, love? Is there anything we can get you?” Liam asked in that tender voice that always made Raine glow.

  “I’m fine.”

  She put on a brave face, but Hammer saw through it.

  “Tell him the truth,” he pressed.

  Raine laced her fingers through his. “Right. Honesty. Communication.” She blew out a breath. “I’m sore everywhere. But the pain tells me I’m alive. And I’m so thankful to be out of that horrible place and away from that monster forever.”

  Hammer clenched his teeth as he inhaled a deep breath. “So are we.”

  “God, yes,” Liam seconded. “Would you like to talk to us about it, love? Or is it too soon?”

  “We’ll help you through this no matter what,” Hammer assured. “Lean on us. I swear to god we won’t let you down again.”

  “Neither of you let me down. I went running out of the club instead of waking you up. I didn’t think anything so terrible would…” Raine’s chin quivered.

  “Shh.” Hammer leaned in and gingerly touched his lips to hers, careful not to disrupt her stitches. “It’s all right. Tell us how to help you.”

  Raine blinked as if unsure what she needed, then swallowed. “I don’t know where to start. Every minute seemed more and more horrific. I was so scared.” Her voice cracked but she continued. “H-he told me he’d been raping my older sister for years, and she let him to protect me.”

  Hammer silently thanked the woman for her tragic sacrifice. But he couldn’t say he was at all surprised to find out that Raine’s sister had suffered under Bill’s hand.

  “Oh, love,” Liam moaned. “It must have been awful.”

  “Then, instead of taking her to the airport to leave for college, he k-killed her. He just took a knife and…” Raine sobbed out in a gut-wrenching wail. “He couldn’t wait to tell me that he’d killed my m-m-mom, too.”

  Shoving down his wrath and wishing he could kill the dead man all over again, Hammer perched on the bed beside her. Liam did the same. Together, they wrapped their arms around her and held her until she slowly regained enough composure to carry on.

  “I don’t even know where their bodies are.” She sniffed. “The only one who truly escaped was my brother, but I don’t know where River is or what’s happened to him.” Then what little self-possession she’d managed dissolved. “I thought once you two found me that all the bad stuff was over, but god, the EMTs came and…”

  Raine pushed against them as if suffocating. He and Liam both eased back, exchanging a worried glance. Hammer suddenly realized Raine didn’t need their physical comfort as much as she needed to vent the torment bottled up inside her.

  “They bagged my hands. I couldn’t touch anything until the police came. They took the bags off but scraped under my fingernails to ‘preserve evidence.’ Then they examined all my bruises and bite marks with so much pity in their eyes I wanted to scream. They took pictures of every single inch of my body, poking at me and making me pose for them as if I were some kind of freak. When they finished scrutinizing every crack and crevice, I felt as if all the loving marks you two had left on me were tainted and disgusting. I couldn’t even say one word in our defense to make them understand.”

  Hammer took her hand as the words spilled off her lips. He had to clench his jaw so he didn’t lash out in rage. Liam’s expression bled self-reproach and anger as he skimmed his fingers up and down her arm. Neither of them knew what to do, except listen and offer comfort.

  “But I remembered what Beck said at the…” Her breath shuddered. “What I had to do. So I told the female detective and your attorney that Bill did everything to me. God, the questions she asked… They never seemed to stop. The police wouldn’t let Beck stay with me while she interrogated me. That woman kept asking if I was afraid or being abused because I live in a sex club. I tried to explain that Shadows wasn’t simply a club for folks who wanted to randomly get it on, but she didn’t acknowledge anything I said, just kept asking questions.”

  More tears spilled down her cheeks. Hammer couldn’t fucking stand that he was unable to erase the injustice she’d had to endure after the atrocities at the warehouse.

  “I had to tell a total stranger everything about my family, starting as far back as I could remember. But she didn’t stop there. She also wanted to know all the hateful, degrading, vile things my father had said to me my whole life. I wanted so badly to tell her that when I stuck that knife into Bill and watched him die, I didn’t feel a damn thing except relief because he fucking deserved it.”

  Raine hung her head and burst into tears. Low, long sobs filled the room and tore at his heart. Hammer and Liam surrounded her once again, holding her, encouraging her to release her grief and anger, repeating that they loved her, assuring her everything would be all right.

  Macen had no way of knowing whether he could keep that last promise because he no longer had to wonder if the day’s events would haunt her for the rest of her life. He knew they would. Instead, he had to help her find a way to move forward.

  Something he’d never been particularly good at himself.

  “We’re proud of you for being so brave, love,” Liam cooed.

  “You’re alive, Raine. You have so many tomorrows to look forward to,” Hammer murmured. “If you’d like, we’ll move into the new house before Christmas. Just the three of us…together.”

  “That’s right,” Liam added. “There’s no stopping us now, love. It’s you, Hammer, and me from now on. You’ll have your hands full making that house into our home. Start your new life with us. We’ll fill it with so much love you won’t be able to drink it all in.”

  Raine sucked in a quivering breath before she raised her chin and wiped her eyes. There she was, their Raine—bold and beautiful and determined to fight back the darkness, at least for this one priceless moment.

  “I’m beyond ready,” she vowed.

  Hammer couldn’t help the tears of pride that filled his eyes. If he and Liam nurtured and coaxed this brave girl, she could conquer the world.

  Suddenly, Seth and Beck entered the room. Seth sent a gentle smile her way. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, Heavenly scurried in with a fresh cup of ice chips.

  “Well, hello again.” Seth smiled at the sweet-faced blonde.

  She couldn’t quite meet his gaze. “Hi.”

  Both Beck and Seth homed in, watching the woman’s every move as she set the plastic cup on the hospital tray near Raine’s bed, then hurried toward the door with a nervous smile at the pair.

  Beck stopped her with a hand on her arm, and Hammer didn’t think he’d ever seen the doctor touch any submissive so tenderly. “Thank you for your help.”

  “My pleasure. I enjoy helping others.”

  No doubt, the innocent girl had no idea how much her words fired up Beck’s Dominant loins. Instead, she darted out of the room. When Beck realized Seth stared at the sway of her hips as she walked away, he growled in warning.

  “What?” Seth asked, arching a brow.

  Hammer smirked as the beginnings of a plan hatched in his head. He and Liam had endured a shitload of ballbusting from these two. Finally, the opportunity for some payback looked promising.

  “Not you, too?” Raine shot Seth a suspicious look.

  “I didn’t do a thing,” he insisted way too innocently.

  “Make sure you keep it that way.” Beck sounded more than annoyed.

  Seth rolled his eyes, then sidled up to the bed next to Liam and gently caressed Raine’s inky hair. “You doing okay, little one?”

  “Yeah.” She did her best to send him a smile. “Thanks.”

  Before they could say more, the ER doctor strolled into the room, glaring at the sudden crowd.

  Beck gave Seth a shove and nodded toward the door. “Let’s give them some privacy, Captain America.” He waved at Raine. “We’ll be back shortly.”

  “Thank you, guys. For everything.”

  After they’d gone, the doctor introduced himself to Liam and Hammer, then turned all his attention on Raine.

  “We’re going to keep you overnight so we can keep an eye on you and give you some IV antibiotics for the bite marks, just in case. I don’t think you’ll need to stay longer than that.”

  Raine sighed. “Can’t I just go home?”

  “If he wants you to stay, you’ll stay,” Hammer ordered.

  “But don’t worry, love. We’ll be with you, too,” Liam assured.

  “How are you feeling now?” the doctor inquired, pen and chart in hand.

  “Much better now.” The look she sent him and Liam told Hammer how relieved and grateful she was to have them at her side.

  Macen’s heart opened even wider to her. How had he ever denied a moment of her love?

  “Good.” The balding, thirty-something doctor smiled. “I’ve got your test results back. Would you like to go over them privately?”

  “Whatever you have to say to me, you can say to the three of us.” She reached out and clasped both their hands.

  “Okay.” He took their unusual relationship in stride, like a medical professional who’d seen and done it all. Then he glanced again at her chart. “Most everything came out normal. I’ve just got a few questions. Are you having any tingling or numbness in your feet or hands?”

  “No, they feel fine,” she replied as she held up her hands and wiggled her toes.

  The ligature marks around her wrists from Bill’s ropes were red and chapped. Hammer couldn’t wait for the day they disappeared—as well as the wounds on her face—so he’d never have to be visually reminded of Bill Kendall or his brutality again.

  “Good.” The doctor nodded. “Any floaters or sparks of light in your eyes?”

  Raine shook her head.

  “Do you have any discomfort in your jaw when you talk?”

  “A little, but it’s going away,” she assured.

  “Are you having other pain? Anything hurting more than a Tylenol can relieve?” The doctor darted a glance at the bite marks on her neck but didn’t mention them.

  “My shoulders are stiff from being tied… In fact, I’m getting a little sore all over.”

  The doctor nodded. “Then I’ll get you a couple of acetaminophen. I see your last period started November twenty-second, is that right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Was it normal?”

  “Not really. It was late and a bit short, but I was under a lot of stress.”

  She sent Liam an apologetic frown. He merely squeezed her hand.

  The doctor nodded. “That sometimes happens, but it’s nothing to worry about. But I don’t foresee any problems from today’s ordeal. Even so, I recommend you follow up with your OB/GYN in a week or so and have him check you out thoroughly.”

  “Why?” Liam asked with an alarm that reflected Hammer’s own.

  Had fucking Bill raped her after all?

  The doctor ignored Liam and cocked his head at Raine. “Didn’t you know? You’re pregnant.”

  ** Doms of Her Life will return with book 4, The Edge of Dominance, and will contain both a conclusion and new beginnings for our beloved characters. **

  His To Take

  A Wicked Lovers Novel

  By Shayla Black

  Coming March 3, 2015

  Click here to pre-order!

  Racing against time, NSA Agent Joaquin Muñoz is searching for a little girl who vanished twenty years ago with a dangerous secret. Since Bailey Benson fits the profile, Joaquin abducts the beauty and whisks her to the safety of Club Dominion—before anyone can silence her for good.

  At first, Bailey is terrified, but when her captor demands information about her past, she’s stunned. Are her horrific visions actually distant memories that imperil all she holds dear? Confined with Joaquin in a place that echoes with moans and breathes passion, he proves himself a fierce protector, as well as a sensual Master who’s slowly crawling deeper in her head…and heart. But giving in to him might be the most delicious danger of all.

  Because Bailey soon learns that her past isn’t the only mystery. Joaquin has a secret of his own—a burning vengeance in his soul. The exposed truth leaves her vulnerable and wondering how much about the man she loves is a lie, how much more is at risk than her heart. And if she can trust him to protect her long enough to learn the truth.

  * * * *

  “…What about you? You’re with another government agency, so you’re here to . . . what? Be my lover? Does Uncle Sam think you need to crawl between my legs in order to watch over me?”

  Joaquin ground his jaw. She was hitting low, and the logical part of him understood that she was hurt, so she was lashing out at the messenger because she didn’t have anyone else. But that didn’t stop his temper from getting swept up in her cyclone of emotion. “I’m not here on anyone’s orders. In fact, I’ll probably be fired for pursuing this case because Tatiana Aslanov isn’t on my boss’s radar. When it became obvious the agency intended to do nothing, I couldn’t leave you to that horrific death. So here we are. But let me clue you in, baby girl. Uncle Sam doesn’t tell me who to fuck. I can’t fake an erection, even for the sake of God and country. That kiss we almost shared? That was me wanting you because just being in the same room with you makes me want to strip off everything you’re wearing and impale you with every inch I’ve got.”

  When he eased closer to Bailey, she squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “Don’t come near me.”

  That defiance made him wish again that he was a spanking kind of guy. He’d really like to melt that starch in her spine. If she wasn’t going to let him comfort her, he’d be more than happy to adjust her attitude with a good smack or ten on her ass, then follow it up with a thorough fucking. A nice handful of orgasms would do them both a world of good.

  “I am so done with people lying to me,” she ground out.

  That pissed him off. “You think I’m lying to you? About which part? Your parents being agents? That I’m sorry? Or that my cock is aching to fill your sweet little pussy until you dig your nails into my back and wail out in pleasure?”

  Her face turned pink. “You’re not sorry about any of this. I’m also not buying your sudden desire bullshit.”

  “I will be more than happy to prove you wrong right now.” He reached for the button of his jeans. “I’m ready if you are.”

  In some distant corner of his brain, Joaquin realized that combating her hurt with challenge wasn’t going over well. On the other hand, something about arguing with her while he’d been imagining her underneath him hadn’t just gotten his blood flowing, but boiling. If fucking her would, in any way, prove to her that he wasn’t lying, he was beyond down with getting busy. If she let him, he’d give it to her hard and wicked—and repeatedly.

  “No!” She managed to look indignant, but her cheeks had gone rosy. The pulse at her neck was pounding. Her nipples poked at her borrowed shirt angrily.

  He put his hands on his hips. If she looked down, she’d see his straining zipper. “Do you still think I’m lying?”

  “I’m done with this conversation.”

  “If you’re telling yourself you don’t want me at all, then you’re the one lying.”

  “Pfft. You might know facts about me on paper, but you don’t know me.”

  “So if I touched your pussy right now, you wouldn’t be wet?”

  He’d always liked a good challenge. It was probably one of the reasons he loved his job. But facing off with her this way made his blood sing, too.

  “No.” She shook her head a bit too emphatically. “And you’re not touching me to find out. Leave me alone.” “You’re worried that I’d find you juicy.

  You’re afraid to admit that I turn you on.” He stalked closer, his footfalls heavy, his eyes narrowing in on her.

  “Stay back,” she warned—but her eyes said something else entirely.

  “Tell me you’re not attracted to me.” He reached out, his strike fast as a snake’s, and gripped her arms. He dragged her closer, fitting her lithe little body against him and holding in a groan when she brushed over his cock. “Tell me you want me to stop. Remember, you don’t like liars. I don’t, either.”

  She didn’t say a word, struggled a bit for show. Mostly, she parted her lips and panted. Her cheeks heated an even deeper rose. Her chest heaved. Never once did she look away from him. “I’m involved with someone else.”

  “If you think whatever you’ve got going with Blane is going to stop me . . .” He didn’t bother to finish his sentence; he just laughed.

  “So you’re not listening to me say ‘no’? You’re not respecting my feelings for another guy?”

  “Let’s just say I’m proving my sincerity to you.” He tightened his grip. When she gasped and her stare fell to his lips, triumph raced through his veins. “I’m also testing you. That pretty mouth of yours might lie to me, but your kisses won’t.”